Benjamin Sesko has been named on Manchester United's bench against Tottenham but Michael Carrick has admitted he has a plan for the striker
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick speaking to TNT ahead of Man Utd's match against Spurs.
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Michael Carrick has confirmed his Benjamin Sesko plan for Manchester United's Premier League clash against Tottenham. Despite scoring the winner against Fulham last weekend, he has been named on the bench again but Carrick still expects him to have an impact.
He told TNT Sport: "Ben’s been fantastic. He’s going to be a big player for a long. I've been really impressed by him and everything I’ve seen from him is really encouraging. It was a huge moment for him last week and I'm sure he will have more of those.
"Today was just a decision I’ve made but Ben will come on and make a big difference for us again." Following his decisive strike in last Sunday's win at Old Trafford, Sesko was a dominant topic at Carrick's pre-match press conference with the United interim head coach making his feelings perfectly clear.
He said “Huge moment [for him to score a winner at the Stretford End. I’m so, so pleased. Everyone in the changing room, players, staff, delighted for him, absolutely delighted for him and the reception he got when he came back in the changing room told us everything. Confidence, it wasn’t so much that.
"He’s been fantastic, we’ve worked with him a lot in different ways over the last couple of weeks. He’s bright in training, he’s looked dangerous, he’s done extra.
"The coaches have done a lot of bits on the side and Travis [Binnion], particularly, has done a lot of work one-on-one with him.
"Ben’s a big talent, he’s got so many positive things. And today’s a huge goal because that feeling as a striker to score a winner in front of the Stretford End late like that, it’s what you dream of.
"After missing the chance, which is what it is, strikers miss chances, to go again and put that away. Absolutely so, so pleased for him. He really deserved it.”
It has not been an easy start to life at his new club with injury striking in the reverse fixture against Spurs. He was absent for the following four Premier League games before returning off the bench against Bournemouth in mid-December.
Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United looks on
Benjamin Sesko has scored four goals from his last four appearances(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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He failed to find the back of the net in his next four starts under Ruben Amorim, but he scored three times during Darren Fletcher's brief run in temporary charge.
With more attacking options available after returns from AFCON for Bryan Mbeumo and Amad, he has been forced to play reduced minutes. The former has been starting as the centre-forward under Carrick, but Sesko has come off the bench in two of those games.
United only have the Premier League to focus on which likely means he will have to settle for more substitute appearances.
However, given the swift turnaround between the visit of Tottenham and trip to West Ham next Tuesday, he could be handed a start at London Stadium especially if he shines off the bench again.